Telephone instrument



June 1, 1943. J. c. WATSON TELEPHONE INSTRUMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet l FiledMarch 14, 1941 mmn IIIIIIIIU June 1, 1943. L Q WATSQN 2,320,838

TELEPHONE INSTRUMENT Eled March 14, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W/ 27 fa IHamill..

Il Illllllm! Num Patented June 1, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE2,320,838- Y TELEPHONE INSTRUMENT Joseph C. Watson, Washington, D. C.appneamnMm-ch 14, 1941, serie1No.3s3,413

Claims.

This invention relates to telephones, and more particularly hasreference to a holder for a telephone receiver in which the receiver maybe placed without breaking the telephone circuit.

In the use of a telephone, it is frequently necessary for the user toput down the receiver temporarily without interrupting the telephoneIcircuit. Ordinarily the receiver is merely placed upon some desk ortable near or upon which the telephone rests. Especially if thetelephone is of the so-called "hand set type, a sharp and objectionablenoise is transmitted through the circuit each time the receiver, or handset, is thus put down, Furthermore, there are occasions when there areno convenient objects upon'which to place the receiver, and, in Vanyevent, it is usually inconvenient to place the receiver upon a.

table or desk.

My invention is designed to provide a suitable holder for a telephonereceiver which overcomes the above objections.

Another object ofl this invention is to provide a holder for a receiverlocated adjacent the telephone and which may be actually mounted uponthe telephone instrument.

Yet another obiect of this invention is to provide a holder for atelephone receiver which is so constructed as to avoid the transmissionof any noise or shock to the receiver when it is placed in such holder.

To accomplish the above, and other important objects, as will be morefully described hereinafter, my invention in general embraces theconcept of providing a holder for a telephone receiver in which thereceiver may be readily placed and from which it may be readily removed,in the event of temporary interruption to a telephone conversation. Thisholder is designed particularly for an instrument of the so-called handset" type, and is preferably detachably secured to the conventionalstand provided for hand set phones. In the preferred embodiment, thatportion of the holder which actually contacts the hand setl is composedof a resilient material to obviate the transmission of any jars or noiseinto the hand set, and particularly the mouthpiece.

In the accompanyingdrawings, I have depicted two specific embodimentswhich are for purposes of illustration merely, it being understood thatvarious changes may be made therein without departing from the scope ofmy inventive concept. In these drawings, in which corresponding numeralsrefer to the same parts:

Figure 1 is aview, in elevation, of the rear of a hand set telephoneequipped with a holder built in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device shown in Figure 1, depictingthe hand set resting within the holder.

Figure 3 is a top view of the device shown in Figures 1 and'2.

Figure 4 is a detail view, partially in section, of

the holder here involved, andshowingone specific method of securing theholder to the telephone stand.

Figure 5 is a view in perspective of the metal frame of the holder shownin Figures 1-4.

Figure 6 is a view of the resilient cushioning device in which the handset actually rests.

Figure 7 is a view along the line I-I of Figure 6, looking in thedirection of the arrows.

Figure 8`is a view along the line 8-8 of Figure 7, looking in thedirection of the arrows.

Figure 9 is a view along the line 9 9 of Figure 6, looking in thedirection oi' the arrows.

Figure 10 is a view in perspective of a modied form oi' metal frame'.

Figure 11 is a view, partly in section, showing a holder provided withthe modiied form of frame,

in operative position on a telephone stand.

Figure 12 is a view along the line I2-I2 oi Figure 11, looking in thedirection of the arrows. Figure 13 is a view along the line lil-I3 ofFigure 11, looking in the direction of the arrows. Figure 14 is a detailview, in'top plan, of the modified formbf frame depicted in Figure 10.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1-3, I have illustrated atelephone of the so-called "hand set type comprising a stand member I, anormal cradle 2 and a hand set designated generally 3. 'I'he hand set ismade up of a receiver 4, a transmitter 5, and a gripping member 8 whichnoted that the stand I is of the modern conventional type, and isProvided with a recess Il at its rear, which is designed to afford amember which may be readily grasped by the operator to move the stand.'I'he overhanging top wall 'i2 of this recess is provided with adepending lip I3 which serves as a finger grip and also serves tomaintain the holder in position. as will be described in more detailhereafter.

For ease of manufacture. I prefer/to make up the holder by using a metalframe member, which is shown in detail in Figure 5, and upon which arefitted resilient contacting elements at the ends of the frame member.The frame member is composed of a base Il which, for a portion of itslength I5. is of a width to flt snugly within the recess II of 1thestand. Uptumed ears I3, the upper edges I6' of which are inclineddownwardly, extend from the sides of section I to abut against the underedge of depending lip I3. At the end of the member I5, the base Il isbent as at I1, in order that the frame may accommodate itself to thedepressed section of stand recess II and provide a foot I1 at the rearextremity of the base I5, and is then upturned. to form a section I3which lies adjacent the inner wall of the recess. A spring latch I9extends from the upturned member I8 and is provided with an offset 2|which engages the depending lip I3. It will, therefore, be noted thatthe latch member ils maintains the upturned ears I6 wedged between thebottom of the recess Il and the lip I3 to thereby maintain the framemember Il securely within the cavity I I.

The frame member Il, exteriorly `of the recess l I, is enlarged as at22, and is bent ib form a depending trianguloid as best shown in Figures4 and 5. At each end of the member 22 are outwardly turned lips 23 and24 for the purpose to be described.

I have shown in Figures 6-9 the resilient contact members which areadaptedvto be secured to the metal frame member. In other words, insteadof fitting a resilient member over the entire extent of the metal framemember, or more particularly portion 22 thereof, for reasons of economyand ease in manufacture, I prefer to employ resilient contact `memberswhich are merely xed over each end of the portion 22. These contactmembers may be made up of rubber or some other suitable resilientmaterial in order to compensate for slight deviations in the fit of theframe I4 within the recess, in order to absorb any shock attendant uponplacing the hand set in the holder, and also to prevent any noisepassing through the telephone circuit. As best shown in Figures 6-9, theresilient contact members. designated generally 25, are roughly oftriangular shape, harmonizing with the lines of the stand l. One side,numbered 216, is complementarykto the shape of the rear of the stand inorder to form a tight fit therewith. It will be noted that the side 26extends Ifarther up than does the opposite side and is shaped tofacilitate placing the hand set in the holder. The upper surface of thecontact member is recessed as at 21 in order to afford a cradle in whichthe gripping member 6 of the hand set rests. l

Referring particularly to Figures 7 and 8, it will be noted that thecontact members are cut out as at 28 to form substantially triangularrecesses of a shape corresponding to the outline of the triangle 22 ofthe frame member. Likewise, it will be noted that sockets 29 and 3| areformed in the recess 28 and are adapted to receive the lips 23 and 24,respectively, thus securing the resilient contact members upon themetallic frame member. As heretofore stated, the contact members arepreferably formed of rubber and may thereby be readily fitted over thetriangular Portion 22 and secured thereon.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to afford a holder for atelephone receiver so that in temporarily putting it down it may bespared any jar or contact with hard surfaces. with the attendant noisethat is thereby induced in the circuit.' To insure that the receivercannot contact the telephone stand itself when placed in the holder, Iso shape the holder, and more particularly the contact members, that thehand set cannot touch the stand when resting in the holder. Forinstance, referring to Figures 7 and 9, the outside surface of thecontact members is flared outwardly in a downward direction, asindicated at 32. In this way. longitudinal movement of the hand set withrespect to the holder is prevented when the set is positioned in theholder, thus insuring that neither the receiver nor transmitter willcontact the stand I. Likewise, as best shown in Figure 9, the exteriorof the contact member is flared outwardly toward the rear of the stand,as indicated at 33. Thus, even if the hand set should be rotated uponits longitudinal axis, the flare 33 would prevent contact with the standI.

There are, of course, alternative ways of securing the holder to thetelephone stand, and in Figures 10-14 I have shown one modification. Inthis case, the only diiIerence resides in the section of the holderwhich is inserted in the recess II of the stand, and which consistsessentially in incorporating the following changes. The bent depressionI1 is dispensed with and the section I 5A extends straight to the rearof the cavity, terminating, just short of the rear wall, in an upturnedlip 34. The upper edges of the ears IBA slant downwardly and inwardly ofthe recess and are provided with corresponding notches 35 adapted toregister with depending lip I3, as best shown in Figure 11, when thesection I5 is maintained truly horizontal.

To insure contact of the notches 35 with the lip I3, I have provided apivoted lever. As best shown in Figure 11, this lever is made up of anL-shaped member 36, which is pivoted to the section I5A as at 31, aportion of member 36 extending through a slot in section I5A. The shortleg of member 36 works against a leaf spring 33 secured to the undersideof a depressed section 33 of the portion I5A. 'Ihe spring 33 is providedso that the lever member will not work directly against the telephonestand, thereby preventing any marring or scratching of the latter.

In order that the lever member 36 may lie ush with the top surface ofsection I5A, the section 33 is depressed, as mentioned above, andlikewise I provide a cut out section 4I so that the wedge member willlie flush and at the same time affording a ready grip of the end of thelonger arm in order to free the holder from the wedging action.

From the foregoing, it will be noted that I have provided a holder for atelephone receiver that may be easily and economically manufactured andreadily attached tov a modern conventional telephone stand. This holderprovides a. device for carrying the receiver when it is desired to avoida closing of the circuit, which would occur if the holder were placed inthe actual cradle of the stand, and furthermore it is so constructed,

. and of such material, that jars or the generation of noise when thereceiver is placed in the holder is prevented. This feature not onlyadds to the longevity of the receiver, but, of more importance,

it spares the party at the other end of the line the sharp anddiscordant noises that are usually attendant upon jarring of themouthpiece.4

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention. I wish itto be understood that I do not confine myself to theprecise details of construction herein set forth by way of illustration,as it is apparent that many changes and variations may be made therein,by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of theinvention, or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A telephone instrument comprising a stand, a hand set, a recess inthe stand, and a holder adapted to receive the hand set without breakingthe telephone circuit, said holder adapted to be supported bythe standand having a portion detachably mounted within the recess of the stand.

2. A telephone instrument comprising a stand, a hand set, a recess inthe stand, and a holder adapted to receive the hand set without breakingthe telephone circuit, said holder adapted to be supported by the standand having a portion detachably mounted within the recess, the surfaceof said holder which contacts the hand set being cushioned withresilient material.

3. A telephone instrument comprising a stand, a recess in said stand, ahand set, and a holder adapted to receive the hand set without breakingthe telephone circuit, said holder being held in secure engagement withthe stand by means of a tongue extending into and locked within saidrecess.

4. A telephone instrument comprising a hand set, a. stand, a recess inthe stand, a lip formed in the wall of the recess, and a holder adaptedto receive the hand set without breaking the telephonecircuit, saidholder being provided with a tongue member extending within the recess,and a resilient latch upon the tongue member engaging the lip of therecess.

5. A telephone instrument comprising a hand set, a stand, a recess inthe stand, a holder adapted to receive the hand set without breaking thetelephone circuit, a tongue on said holder extending within the recess,and a lever pivoted on said tongue adapted to lock the tongue within therecess.

6. A telephone instrument comprising a hand set, a stand, a recess inthe stand, said stand provided with a cradle adapted to break thetelephone circuit when the receiver is placed therein, a holder for thehand set in addition to said cradle in which the receiver may be placedwithout breaking the circuit, a resilient material covering the holderat such places where the holder contacts the hand set, and a tongueformed integrally with the holder and extending within the recess, andmeans for locking said tongue in position within the recess.

'1. A telephone instrument provided with a hand set, a stand, a recessdefined by the stand, a cradle adapted to break the telephone circuitfOr the when the receiver is placed therein, and a holder for the handset in addition to said cradle in which the reeciver may be placedwithout breaking the circuit, said holder comprising a base member, oneportion of which is adapted to support the hand set, and a secondportion of which is adapted to t within the said recess, and upwardlyextending ears carried by said insert portion, said ears being adaptedto iit against the walls of the recess.

8. A telephone instrument provided with a hand set, a stand, a recessdefined by the stand, a cradle adapted to break the telephone circuitwhen the receiver is placed therein, and a holder hand set in additionto' said cradle in which the receiver may be placed without breaking thecircuit, said holder comprising a base member, one portion of which isprovided with resilient means adapted to hold the hand set, and a secondportion of which is adapted to t withing the recess, the extremities ofsaid insert being upturned to form ears adapted to extend up* wardlywithin the recess.

9. A telephone instrument provided with a hand set, a stand, a recessdefined by the stand. a downwardly depending lip within the recess. acradle adapted to break the telephone circuit when the receiver isplaced therein. and a holder.`

for the hand set in addition to said cradle in which the receiver may beplaced without break-f ing the circuit, said holder comprising a basemember, a portion of which is adapted to support the hand set and asecond portion of which is adapted to t within the recess, theextremities of said insert being upturned to form ears adapted to extendupwardly within the recess, two of said ears being adapted to abut thedepending lip, and a spring latch mounted on the remaining ear, saidlatch being adapted to engage the depending lip. l

10. A telephone instrument provided with a hand set, a stand, a recessdened by the stand, a downwardly depending lip within the recess, acradle adapted to break the telephone circuit when the receiver isplaced therein, and a holder for the hand set in addition to said cradlein which the receiver may be placed without breaking the circuit, saidholder comprising a base member, a portion of which is provided withresilient means adapted to support the hand set and the remainingportion being adapted to fit within the recess, upwardly extending earscarried by said insert, said ears being adapted to t snugly against thewalls of the recess, means provided on two of said ears to engage thedownwardly depending lip, a slot in the insert and a lever pivotallymounted on the insert, a portion of said lever extending through theslot and engaging a latch spring which rests against the bottom portionof the recess whereby the notched ears can `be forced against thedepending lip when the lever is depressed.

JOSEPH c. WATSON.

